…Riley Smith, Back, Alabama
Players selected by the Boston Redskins in the inaugural 1936 NFL Draft
| Round | Name | Position | College | Pro Career |
| 1, #2 | Riley Smith | B | Alabama | 1936-1938 |
| 2, #11 | Keith Topping | E | Stanford | Did not play |
| 3, #20 | Ed Smith | B | NYU | 1936 Redskins, 1937 Packers |
| 4, #29 | Paul Tangora | G | Northwestern | Did not play |
| 5, #38 | Wilson Groseclose | T | TCU | Did not play |
| 6, #47 | Larry Lutz | T | California | Did not play |
| 7, #56 | Don Irwin | B | Colgate | 1936 Syracuse/Rochester Braves (AFL), New York Yankees (AFL), Boston Shamrocks (AFL),
1937-1939 Washington Redskins |
| 8, #65 | Wayne Millner | E | Notre Dame | 1936-1941, 1945 Boston/Washington Redskins,
1942-1945 United States Navy, 1968 Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| 9, #74 | Marcel Saunders | G | Loyola (LA) | Did not play |
First-round draft pick Riley Smith was a two-way player. Everyone was in football’s early days. He played quarterback, linebacker, punter and kicker for Ray Flaherty’s 1936 championship runner-up team. The Redskins selected Sammy Baugh in the ’37 Draft. That ended Smith’s run as quarterback, but he started 27 of 39 games for the ‘Skins before an injury ended his career.
He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Wayne Millner was the class of the Redskins’ 1936 Draft. He was Sammy Baugh’s favorite passing target. The two are remembered for spectacular plays. He was a two-time All-Pro, but Baugh and Cliff Battles drew more publicity.
Millner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with Battles in 1968.
Don Irwin played fullback and started 14 of 20 games in 1937-’38. He has six career touchdowns.
Ed Smith started four of eight games for the 1936 Boston Redskins.
Good times.
Hat tip to Ken Crippen whose story on NationalFootballPost.com about the first NFL Draft inspired this post.
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